Means for locking grate-bars



L.. L. CLOSE.

MEANS FOR rooms GRATE BARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I, I9I9,

Patented Jan. 6', I920.

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LEONARD L. onosn, or lv'ZARION, INDIANA, AssIeNoR ro MARION FOUNDRY ooRro A TION, or NIARIoN, INDIANA, A ooRroRA'rroN.

IVIEANS FOR LOCKING GRATE-BARS.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

' Application filed March 1, 1919. Serial No. 280,110.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LnoNARD L. Cnosn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Looking Grate-Bars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a locking device for grate-bars; and one of the objects of the invention consists in the provision of certain means whereby grate-bars of the oscillating or rocking type can be-locked against accidental displacement when a hard object or a clinker becomes wedged between the bars.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of certain means for preventing accidental displacement of oscillating and tilting grate-bars which is simple 2 in construction, easy to install, eiiicient and economical to manufacture.

I accomplish the above objects of the invention, and such others as may appear from a perusal of the following description and claims, by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a parthereof, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view through a fire-box beneath a boiler, showing my grate-bar locking-means in operative position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in side elevation of one end of the grate-bars supporting rail, showing more clearly the construction and arrangement of the grate-bar locking devices. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the grate-bars supporting rail, on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. at is a fragmentary detail plan view of one corner of a plurality of grate-bars and one of the supporting rails. Fig. 5 is an underside view of one of the key-blocks.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents one of a pair of parallel side rails between which the grate-bars 11 are supported, one of these rails being arranged against the opposite and inner wall surface of the brick-wall 12 forming the inclosure for the fire-box. Side rails 10 are suitably supported at their ends by the angle plates 14 and 15 which are built in the brick walls 12. Rails 10 are each provided in their upper edge with a plurality of uniformly spaced recesses 16 which receive the trunnion-ends 17 of the grate-bars 11. The depth of recesses 16 is generally relied on in'other constructions to prevent accidental displacement of the trunnions l7 0' the grate-bars 1'1, and with the added fuel load carried by the bars is ordinarily sulficient to hold the bars in place unless some hard object or clinker becomes lodged between the meeting edges of the grate-bars when the latter are tilted. When this occurs and sufficient force is applied to lever 20 the trunnion ends 17 of grate-bars 11 are displaced from one or more of the recesses 16 and creating not only a difiicult but vexatious situation which can only be remedied by completely dumping the fuel on the grate bars and then allowing the latter to coolsufficiently to permit proper replacement of parts to be made. To obviate the above conditions from occurring is the chief object of the present invention, and thisl accomplish by means of laterally formed lips 22 which are integral with and are arranged along the upper side edges of rails 'lO'and on opposite'sides of recesses 16. When the trunnion ends of one of the grate-bars are inserted into a pair of recesses 16 accidental displacement of said ends from said recesses is prevented by means of locking-blocks 21 having slots 23 which terminate in lateral recesses 24 (Fig. 3) adapted to receive lips 22 arranged on the opposite sides of rail 10. Locking-block 21 is initially let down over the upper edge of rail 10 and at one side of lips 22 and recess 16, as shown by the dotted position in Fig. 2, after which said blOCK position and the locking blocks 21-also in operative position I prevent possible further longitudinal travel of the blocks along rails 10, when the grate-bars are oscillated, by means of key-blocks 26 which are arranged along the top of side and between locking blocks 21, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. To prevent key-blocks 26 from being displaced I provide side rails 10 withvertical channels 27 which receive corresponding ribs 28 which project into the slots 29 of key-blocks 26. Slots 29 receive the upper edges of side rails 10 when the key-blocks are let down over said side rails. The interlocking of ribs 24. After all of the I grate-bars have been placed into operative v rails 10 at the ends of 28 with the vertical channels 27 in side rails V gitudinally along said rails, said key-blocks 26 serving to hold the locking-bl0cks 21 in position in bridging recesses 16 and preventing accidental displacement of the trunnionends 17 of grate-bars 11.

Each of the grate-bars 11 may and generally is provided With a depending arm to which a connecting rod 31 is attached, and this rod extends outside the fire-box and connects With the hand-lever 20 by Which said grate-bars may be tilted in the usual Way.

The invention is so extremely simple that further description is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus fully described my said in vention, What I desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described comprising a plurality of supporting rails for grate-bars having a series of spaced recesses, horizontally disposed integral lips formed on both sides of the rails and adjacent the recesses therein, grate-bars arranged to oscillate in said recesses, and locking-blocks having slots terminating in lateral recesses and adapted to be let down over the upper edges of the rail and to one side of the lips, said locking-blocks susceptible of being moved longitudinally to engage the lips and close the mouths of said recesses.

2. In a device of the characterdescribed comprising a plurality of supporting rails for grate-bars having a series of spaced recesses, horizontally disposed integral lips formed on both sides of the rails and adjacent the recesses therein, grate-bars arranged to oscillate in said recesses, lockingblocks having slots terminating in lateral recesses and adapted to be let doWn over the upper edges of the rail and to one side of the lips, said locking-blocks susceptible of being moved longitudinally to engage the lips and close the mouths of said recesses, and key-blocks arranged at the ends and between the locking-blocks for preventing accidental displacement or"- the latter from operative position.

3. In a device of the character described comprising a plurality of supporting rails for grate-bars having a series of both spaced recesses and vertically disposed channels, horizontal lips formed on both sides of the supporting rails and adjacent the recesses therein, locking-blocks having slots terminating in lateral recesses for receiving the lips on the supporting rails, slotted key-blocks arranged along the upper edges of the supporting rails and between the locking-blocks, and vertical ribs carried by the key-blocks for engaging the vertical channels in the supporting rails and preventing said keyblocks from moving longitudinally of said supporting rails.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 20th .day of February, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and nineteen.

LEONARD L. oLosE. n 5. 

